NHTSA Complaint #11665497 — 2014 FORD FUSION

Our 2014 Ford Fusion was recalled under NHTSA Campaign Number 15V250000, issued June 24, 2015, for an issue with internal binding and corrosion in the power steering rack which could lead to a loss of power steering assist. In 2015, Brighton Ford (Livingston County, MI) performed the recall remedy. After that service, our vehicle's VIN was removed from NHTSA's active recall list. However, on [XXX], less than 10 years later, the exact same issue occurred again—the steering wheel froze and the front wheels did not respond. The "Steering Loss" warning appeared. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The car was diagnosed and repaired at Balise Ford of Wilbraham, MA. They retrieved DTC C102D:00 which indicates high friction in the power steering gear, a symptom specifically tied to internal binding caused by water ingress, as described in the original recall. The steering rack was replaced at our expense. The repair invoice and technician comments clearly describe the same failure mode the recall was meant to prevent. This indicates the original recall remedy was ineffective in our case. WHAT IS YOUR REQUEST TO NHTSA? We respectfully request that NHTSA: Reinstate our VIN on the 15V250000 recall list, acknowledging that the original repair was inadequate and the defect recurred. Enable us to seek reimbursement from Ford for the repair and towing costs now totaling over $5,400. This situation demonstrates that a single recall remedy does not always fully resolve the safety issue. We hope NHTSA will help ensure affected owners are protected and treated fairly. DEALERSHIPS INVOLVED Original Recall Service (2015): Brighton Ford Livingston County, Michigan Recent Repair (2025): Balise Ford of Wilbraham 1979 Boston Rd, Wilbraham, MA 01095 Phone: 413-858-6195 Service Advisor: John Gabriel Retrieved DTC: C102D:00 – High Friction in Power Steering Mileage at Repair: 60,468 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)